thermometer 80°; spring is already commencing—and remember that our winter and spring are nearly the same. I heard the song of a sweet bird to-day: it was new to me. Will the season have its wonted influence on me? It is but within a very few years that I have been engaged in life as a man, and already I am set down as an old one.
April 7th.—Nine cases yesterday: one was for 230l..
I was much amused by two Lascars, who came into the court for justice—I have not time to give you a full detail of their case; it ended by one calling upon the other to take his oath, which he did by taking off his cap and speaking within it: "Me speak truth, my cap—all same me speak truth, my head—all same me speak truth; my body—me speak truth, my cap—me have my head cut off me speak lie, my cap—me go to—." Here he made a low salute, and pointed down—I looked at the other: "Are you satisfied?"—he made a low obeisance, and both walked off together, having settled their lawsuit to their mutual satisfaction.
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llth.—I lose all spirit when writing to you, and feel that my letters are lapsing into cold formality or peevish querulousness; but my situation must excuse me, for where is the overflowing of affection, the outpouring of unrestrained communica-
